Dynamic activation of service indicators based upon service personnel proximity

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the invention provide a method, system and computer program product for dynamic activation of service indicators based upon service personnel proximity. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for dynamic activation of service indicators based upon service personnel proximity is provided. The method includes receiving at an enclosure of different hardware devices in a data center, a message for personnel proximity based activation of a service indicator lamp and activating a presence sensor in response to receiving the message. The method also includes responding to presence sensing an individual by the presence sensor by activating the service indicator lamp of the enclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to inventory management in a data centerand more particularly to locating physical resources in a data center.

2. Description of the Related Art

A data center is a facility used to house computer systems andassociated components, such as telecommunications and storage systems.The typical data center generally includes not only a multiplicity ofservers, both stand alone and rackmount, but also communicationswitching devices, redundant or backup power supplies, environmentalcontrols including air conditioning and fire suppression and securitydevices. Oftentimes, different sets of servers and associated switchesare stored in cabinets within the data center or on racks in the datacenter, with those cabinets or racks organized in rows just as may bethe case with bookshelves in a library.

In any datacenter environment, it is necessary to locate a particularphysical hardware device for several reasons—for example, to address afault or other condition accessible only through direct physical accessto the hardware device. However, the location of a hardware device in adatacenter can differ from a specific rack or cabinet number in aparticular location, to a slot within a chassis located in a specificrack or cabinet in a particular location. Current solutions address thecomplexity of locating individual hardware components in the data centerthrough the utilization of several technologies such as universalproduct codes (UPC) and radiofrequency identification (RFID) tags. Thesemethods require the personnel to carry a device to read the UPC or RFIDvalues, as they are not generally human-readable. Methods such as RFIDalso suffer from the problem of having multiple responses to a localread, since many tags will respond to a read action from the user. UPCsuffers from the requirement of having to scan each code individually,which requires the personnel to scan multiple systems to find thespecific one being sought.

As a more general method of locating elements in the data center withouta specific identification tag, visual indicators, such as LEDs may beilluminated to draw attention to components in need of service. Evenstill, these lights may be lost in the sea of other status and activityLEDs that are commonly present on the front and back panels of a datacenter device.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art inrespect to device location in a data center and provide a novel andnon-obvious method, system and computer program product for dynamicactivation of service indicators based upon service personnel proximity.In an embodiment of the invention, a method for dynamic activation ofservice indicators based upon service personnel proximity is provided.The method includes receiving at an enclosure of different hardwaredevices in a data center, a message for personnel proximity basedactivation of a service indicator lamp and activating a presence sensorin response to receiving the message. The method also includesresponding to presence sensing an individual by the presence sensor byactivating the service indicator lamp of the enclosure.

In one aspect of the embodiment, the individual is authenticatedresponsive to presence sensing the individual and the message text ofthe message is displayed in a management console of the enclosure onlyif the individual authenticates. In another aspect of the embodiment,the message text of the message is displayed in a management console ofthe enclosure responsive to presence sensing the individual by thepresence sensor.

In another embodiment of the invention, a data processing system isconfigured for dynamic activation of service indicators based uponservice personnel proximity. The system includes an enclosure enclosingdifferent hardware devices in a data center and a management consolemanaging the enclosure. The system also includes a service indicatorlamp coupled to the enclosure and a presence sensor disposed in theenclosure. Finally, the system includes a service indicator activationmodule executing in memory of one of the hardware devices. The moduleincludes program code enabled upon execution to receive a message forpersonnel proximity based activation of the service indicator lamp, toactivate the presence sensor in response to receiving the message, and,responsive to presence sensing an individual by the presence sensor,activating the service indicator lamp of the enclosure. In one aspect ofthe embodiment, the presence sensor is an infrared sensor. In anotheraspect of the embodiment, the presence sensor is a Wi-Fi access pointdetecting a Wi-Fi enabled mobile device of the individual scanning forWi-Fi access points.

Additional aspects of the invention will be set forth in part in thedescription which follows, and in part will be obvious from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The aspectsof the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elementsand combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It isto be understood that both the foregoing general description and thefollowing detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only andare not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute partof this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description, serve to explain the principles of theinvention. The embodiments illustrated herein are presently preferred,it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to theprecise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial illustration of a process for dynamic activationof service indicators based upon service personnel proximity;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a data processing systemconfigured for dynamic activation of service indicators based uponservice personnel proximity; and,

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a process for dynamic activation ofservice indicators based upon service personnel proximity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention provide for dynamic activation of serviceindicators based upon service personnel proximity. In accordance with anembodiment of the invention, a hardware device in a data center can beco-located in a same enclosure as a wireless proximity detection deviceincluding that of a Wi-Fi access point, or an infrared sensor.Responsive to the wireless proximity detection device detecting apresence of a person, a visual indicator such as a service LED can beactivated at the enclosure. Further, a console display can provideinformation pertaining to a condition of the hardware device.Optionally, the person can be authenticated by the enclosure and only anauthorized person can be granted access to the console display.Alternatively, only an authorized person can be provided additionaldetail pertaining to the condition.

In further illustration, FIG. 1 pictorially shows a process for dynamicactivation of service indicators based upon service personnel proximity.As shown in FIG. 1, an enclosure 100 such as a rack or cabinet in a datacenter can enclose different servers 110. The enclosure 100 further caninclude a console display 130 configured to manage the operation of theservers 110 in the enclosure including power and data communications. Ofnote, a presence sensor 120 also can be included. The presence sensor120 can include an infrared sensor enabled to detect movement proximateto the presence sensor 120, or a Wi-Fi access point with which theproximity of a wireless device of an end user can be determined by wayof the device associating with the Wi-Fi access points.

Dynamic activation logic 150 can be coupled both to the presence sensor120 and also the console display 130. The dynamic activation logic 150can respond to a request to enable the presence sensor 120 by enablingthe presence sensor 120 and, in response to the presence sensor 120detecting the presence of an individual 160, the dynamic activationlogic 150 can illuminate a service lamp 140A present in the enclosure100 so as to alert the individual as to the physical location of theenclosure 100. Additionally, the dynamic activation logic 150 candeactivate other lamps 140B present in the enclosure 100 so as to avoidcluttering a display of lights in the enclosure 100 and to allow theservice lamp 140A to be clearly visible to the individual 160. Yetfurther, the dynamic activation logic 150 can deactivate other lamps140B present not only in the enclosure 100 but also lamps present inadjacent enclosures.

Optionally, to the extent that the dynamic activation logic 150 canauthenticate the individual 160, the dynamic activation logic 150 canprovide a message to the console display 130 so as to provide theindividual 160 with information regarding the enclosure 100 or one ormore of the servers 110 in the enclosure 100. For example, the dynamicactivation logic 150 may perform an additional authentication step ofproviding the individual 160 through the console display 130 with achallenge-response, such as a password prompt to grant full access tothe console display 130.

The process described in connection with FIG. 1 can be implemented in adata processing system. In more particular illustration, FIG. 2schematically shows a data processing system configured for dynamicactivation of service indicators based upon service personnel proximity.The system can include a host computer 210 with memory and at least oneprocessor, the host computer 210 being communicatively coupled todifferent hardware devices 230 in common enclosure (not shown) over acomputer communications network 220. The host computer 210 also caninclude a set of lamps 260 including a service indicator configured uponactivation to illuminate to the exclusion of others of the lamps 260.

A management console 240 can execute in the memory of the host computer210. The management console 240 can be configured to direct managementoperations of the different hardware devices 230 and the enclosure (notshown). The management console 240 can be coupled to a presence sensor250 configured to sense the presence of an individual. Examples includean infrared sensor, or even a Wi-Fi access point to become associatedwith a Wi-Fi enabled device so as to infer the proximity of anindividual associated with the Wi-Fi enabled device. Finally, a serviceindicator activation module 300 can be coupled to the management consoleand the presence sensor 250 and can execute in the memory of the hostcomputer 210.

The service indicator activation module 300 can include program codethat when executed in the memory of the host computer 210 is enabled torespond to a request to enable the presence sensor 250 by enabling thepresence sensor 250 and, in response to the presence sensor 250detecting the presence of an individual, to direct the illumination ofthe service indicator amongst the lamps 260 and the deactivation ofothers of the lamps 260 so as to alert the individual as to the physicallocation of the enclosure and the particular one of the devices 230 inthe enclosure in need of servicing. Optionally, the program code of theservice indictor activation module 300 can be enabled to authenticatethe individual and provide a message to the management console 240 so asto provide the individual with information regarding the enclosure orone or more of the hardware devices 230 in the enclosure.

In even yet further illustration of the operation of the serviceindicator activation module 300, FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating aprocess for dynamic activation of service indicators based upon servicepersonnel proximity. Beginning in block 310, a device or an enclosurecontaining the device can be selected and in block 320, a message can besent to the device (or enclosure) requesting activation of the serviceindicator lamp along with pertinent message text to be displayed in amanagement console of the enclosure. Also, as part of the directive canbe sent to the device to activate the service indicator lamp, in block320 a directive can be sent to the device to de-activate all other lampsof the device. In block 330, in response to the message, a presencesensor can begin sensing for the presence of an individual, eitherthrough infrared detection of proximate objects in motion, or by Wi-Fiassociation of a Wi-Fi enabled device with a wireless access point ofthe enclosure.

In decision block 340, if the individual is detected proximate to theenclosure, in block 350 the individual can be authenticated. In decisionblock 360, if authenticated, in block 370 the service indicator of theenclosure can be illuminated and the message text displayed in themanagement console while other lamps of the enclosure can be darkened orcompletely deactivated. Optionally, the individual also can beautomatically granted access to the management console onceauthenticated. As a further option, access to the management console canbe limited to specific service activities based upon the identity of theindividual and the proximity of the individual to the managementconsole. For example, the management console may permit the individualto access one set of operations, however in a specific service case, theset of operations may be reduced to only a subset of critical operationsdepending upon the state of the device leading to the event requiringservicing of the device. Thereafter, the process can end in block 380.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the presentinvention may be embodied as a system, method or computer programproduct. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the formof an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or anembodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may allgenerally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.”Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of acomputer program product embodied in one or more computer readablemedium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may beutilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signalmedium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readablestorage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic,magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system,apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Morespecific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readablestorage medium would include the following: an electrical connectionhaving one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber,a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storagedevice, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storagemedium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a programfor use by or in connection with an instruction execution system,apparatus, or device.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium thatis not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate,propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmittedusing any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless,wireline, optical fiber cable, radiofrequency, and the like, or anysuitable combination of the foregoing. Computer program code forcarrying out operations for aspects of the present invention may bewritten in any combination of one or more programming languages,including an object oriented programming language and conventionalprocedural programming languages. The program code may execute entirelyon the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alonesoftware package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remotecomputer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latterscenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computerthrough any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or awide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an externalcomputer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet ServiceProvider).

Aspects of the present invention have been described above withreference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods,apparatus (systems) and computer program products according toembodiments of the invention. In this regard, the flowchart and blockdiagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, andoperation of possible implementations of systems, methods and computerprogram products according to various embodiments of the presentinvention. For instance, each block in the flowchart or block diagramsmay represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises oneor more executable instructions for implementing the specified logicalfunction(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware andcomputer instructions.

It also will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer program instructions. These computer program instructions maybe provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, specialpurpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus toproduce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via theprocessor of the computer or other programmable data processingapparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified inthe flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable dataprocessing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readablemedium produce an article of manufacture including instructions whichimplement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. The computer program instructions may also beloaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, orother devices to cause a series of operational steps to be performed onthe computer, other programmable apparatus or other devices to produce acomputer implemented process such that the instructions which execute onthe computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

Finally, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describingparticular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of theinvention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” areintended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearlyindicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms“comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification,specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations,elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence oraddition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations,elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended toinclude any structure, material, or act for performing the function incombination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. Thedescription of the present invention has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Theembodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and the practical application, and to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

Having thus described the invention of the present application in detailand by reference to embodiments thereof, it will be apparent thatmodifications and variations are possible without departing from thescope of the invention defined in the appended claims as follows:

1. A method for dynamic activation of service indicators based uponservice personnel proximity, the method comprising: receiving at anenclosure of different hardware devices in a data center, a message forpersonnel proximity based activation of a service indicator lamp;activating a presence sensor in response to receiving the message; and,responsive to presence sensing an individual by the presence sensor,activating the service indicator lamp of the enclosure, authenticatingthe individual, and displaying message text of the message in amanagement console of the enclosure only if the individualauthenticates.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising responsiveto presence sensing an individual by the presence sensor, de-activatingall other indicator lamps in the enclosure.
 3. (canceled)
 4. The methodof claim 1, further comprising displaying message text of the message ina management console of the enclosure responsive to presence sensing theindividual by the presence sensor.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein thepresence sensor is an infrared sensor.
 6. The method of claim 1, whereinthe presence sensor is a Wi-Fi access point detecting a Wi-Fi enabledmobile device of the individual scanning for Wi-Fi access points.
 7. Adata processing system configured for dynamic activation of serviceindicators based upon service personnel proximity, the systemcomprising: an enclosure enclosing a plurality of different hardwaredevices in a data center; a management console managing the enclosure; aservice indicator lamp amongst several lamps coupled to the enclosure; apresence sensor disposed in the enclosure; and, a service indicatoractivation module executing in memory of one of the hardware devices,the module comprising program code enabled upon execution to receive amessage for personnel proximity based activation of the serviceindicator lamp, to activate the presence sensor in response to receivingthe message, and, responsive to presence sensing an individual by thepresence sensor, activating the service indicator lamp of the enclosure,authenticating the individual, and displaying message text of themessage in a management console of the enclosure only if the individualauthenticates.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the program code isfurther enabled to respond to presence sensing an individual by thepresence sensor by de-activating all others of the lamps in theenclosure.
 9. (canceled)
 10. The system of claim 7, wherein the programcode is further enabled to display message text of the message in themanagement console responsive to presence sensing the individual by thepresence sensor.
 11. The system of claim 7, wherein the presence sensoris an infrared sensor.
 12. The system of claim 7, wherein the presencesensor is a Wi-Fi access point detecting a Wi-Fi enabled mobile deviceof the individual scanning for Wi-Fi access points.
 13. A computerprogram product for dynamic activation of service indicators based uponservice personnel proximity, the computer program product comprising: anon-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer readableprogram code embodied therewith, the computer readable program codecomprising: computer readable program code for receiving at an enclosureof different hardware devices in a data center, a message for personnelproximity based activation of a service indicator lamp; computerreadable program code for activating a presence sensor in response toreceiving the message; and, computer readable program code forresponding to presence sensing an individual by the presence sensor byactivating the service indicator lamp of the enclosure, authenticatingthe individual, and displaying message text of the message in amanagement console of the enclosure only if the individualauthenticates.
 14. The computer program product of claim 13, furthercomprising computer readable program code for responding to presencesensing an individual by the presence sensor by de-activating all otherindicator lamps in the enclosure.
 15. (canceled)
 16. The computerprogram product of claim 13, further comprising computer readableprogram code for displaying message text of the message in a managementconsole of the enclosure responsive to presence sensing the individualby the presence sensor.
 17. The computer program product of claim 13,wherein the presence sensor is an infrared sensor.
 18. The computerprogram product of claim 13, wherein the presence sensor is a Wi-Fiaccess point detecting a Wi-Fi enabled mobile device of the individualscanning for Wi-Fi access points.